CHADDS FORD -- Andrew Single was one of many customers at Jimmy John's restaurant on Saturday who had huge grins on their faces because the famous eatery reopened after a devastating fire seven months ago.

For Single, a 9-year-old who was seated at a table with his parents, Liz and Craig, and his 5-year-old brother, Daniel, the reopening was somewhat of a belated birthday present.

"I wanted to come here on my birthday so I'm pretty happy," said Single, whose birthday was just a few days ago, on Nov. 29.

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And the reopening was a gift to another family.

"My dad is absolutely thrilled," said Sara Steward, whose father Roger owns the eatery. "It's like Christmas came early for him."

A fire caused extensive damage to the restaurant this past May, on the day of its 70th anniversary. The Steward family, employees and customers were also saddened by the fire.

"There was never any doubt that we wouldn't rebuild," Steward said. "We just had to focus on how to get it going again."

Steward said her family is grateful for the community's support. "So many people have been so kind," she said.

Roger Steward purchased the restaurant after founder James "Jimmy" John died in October 2002. Steward worked in the restaurant as a manager from 1974 until he bought the place.

John opened the open-air hot dog stand in May 1940. In 1960, the building, which by then had gone through several rounds of additions, was demolished to make way for Route 202. The new restaurant opened as close to the old one as possible -- mere feet from the highway -- and has been there ever since.

Outside of the restaurant Saturday, the parking lot was packed with cars.

"We heard it was opening today and we all got excited about the fries and milkshakes," said Amy Denight, of Glen Mills, while standing outside with other members of the Good Fellowship Training Institute Paramedics Class of 2011. "I've been coming here since I was little. I was upset when the fire happened. When I heard it was going to reopen, I was looking forward to enjoying the food and atmosphere here."

Inside, there was a standing-room-only crowd.

"It's great," said Thornbury resident Leif Ericksen, while eating lunch with his wife, Carol. "We've been waiting for seven months for it to reopen again."

West Chester resident Patricia Gordon was also thrilled about the reopening. She said she cried the day that the eatery burnt down.

"I've been coming here for years," said Gordon. "My dad used to come here when it was a little shack along the highway. I'm very happy. I've been waiting for this day for months. I would have waited in a line outside in the cold. I'm glad to see the trains and pictures are back up."

The famous roadside stand is best known for its delicious hot dogs, historic photographs and antique model trains.

Customers said the food tasted just as good as it did before the fire. And they were also impressed with the way it was decorated, which they said replicated the original building. The major difference is the new building has indoor bathrooms.

"It's gorgeous -- absolutely gorgeous," said Jim Beatty, a West Grove resident, who was at Jimmy John's with his wife, Barbara. "If I could come here every Saturday, I would," adding that he was impressed with the food and friendly employees. "Nothing has changed."

Barbara Beatty said she was a customer at Jimmy John's for 20 years.

"I used to bring my grandmother here," she said. "It's just a good old family place with good food."

Nearby business owners were also happy about the reopening.

Len D'Antonio, owner of the 202 Knife Shop next to the restaurant, said he ate hot dogs there for the past 63 years. He brought his children there, too.

"I had to have a hot dog, chicken nuggets and french fries," D'Antonio said. "I had to have it today. I've been looking forward to it for months, especially since it is right next door."

Tony Polito, owner of a nearby barber shop, was also happy about the eatery reopening. "It's nice to get traffic back," he said.

Polito was a good friend of Jimmy John. He said the former owner enjoyed being around people. He said John would have been "tickled to death if he were here today."

"It's like the old adage: If you build it, they will come," said D'Antonio. "That's exactly what happened."